Safety closures

ABSTRACT

A safety closure against unathorized opening mainly by young children, for pharmaceutical containers, consists of a circumferentially outwardly projecting rim around the container mouth and a cap having a rim which abuts the first rim so closely as to lie in exposed flush-joint co-incidence therewith and be virtually undetectable as indicator of the parting plane. The cap may be separated by exerting a pry against a flush-lying yieldable membrane-portion of the container rim surface which portion is also undetectable to the uninstructed. Alternatively two cavities on opposite sides of the container rim may be distorted by way of pressure-transfer means to effect a uniform parting of the cap from the container.

United States Patent 1 Smith 1 1 SAFETY CLOSURES [76] Inventor: Thomas David Smith, Apt. 101, 109

Jameson Ave., Toronto 3, Ontario, Canada [22] Filed: Oct. 6, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 295,673

[52] US. Cl. 215/216; 215/224; 220/307; 220/281 [51] Int. Cl. 865d 55/02; B65d 85/56; A61] H00 [58] Field of Search 215/9, 47, 46 R, 216, 224, 215/225; 220/60 A, 307, 281

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,759,411 9/1973 Horvath 215/9 3,782,575 1/1974 Braun .1 220/60 A 1 June 10, 1975 Primary ExaminerGeorge T. Hall Attorney, Agent, or FirmC. C. Kent; K. M. Hill 1 1 ABSTRACT A safety closure against unathorized opening mainly by young children, for pharmaceutical containers, consists of a circumferentially outwardly projecting rim around the container mouth and a cap having a rim which abuts the first rim so closely as to lie in exposed flush-joint co-incidence therewith and be virtually undetectable as indicator of the parting plane. The cap maybe separated by exerting a pry against a flush-lying yieldable membrane-portion of the container rim surface which portion is also undetectable to the uninstructed. Alternatively two cavities on opposite sides of the container rim may be distorted by way of pressure-transfer means to effect a uniform parting of the cap from the container.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SAFETY CLOSURES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many child-proof caps have been patented for preventing particularly children from opening bottles containing pills and the like. Most of these operate by variations of a limited rotary motion of the cap sometimes accompanied by pressure, variations of well known bayonet-joint having been utilised.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relies for its safety against opening as by children particularly upon the concept of an annular conformation projecting around the mouth of the bottle outwardly therefrom and in combination a cap having a body and a sealing insert or plug intended to be pushed into the mouth of the container, the cap also having an annular outwardly projecting rim. The extreme perimeters of the rim on the container and the rim on the cap are of identical diameter and both lie on a plane perpendicular to the container axis. It follows that when the two rims are in closed position they are in exposed flush-joint co-incidence with the parting line between them virtually invisible or at least of little more than a hair's breadth thickness such that a child particularly will not recognize the same as the plane on which the cap and container are separated.

Although in the accompanying drawings the parting plane is shown as a shapr annular edge when the cap and container are in closed relationship, other conformations may be employed within the scope of the invention. Such obvious alternative conformation would be a container-mouth rim and a cap-rim which would be hemispherical.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device by means of which if only one cavity means be employed can be opened by a prying operation at one point only of the container rim but in another embodiment in which a pair of diametrically opposed cavity means are employed the cap may be separated by a steady push so that the gap in the parting plane remains uniform as it increases.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device of the character herein described which is readily adaptable to plastic moulding techniques and is believed to be adapted for sale and retail or to druggists and the like at an economic price.

With the foregoing in view, and such other or further purposes, advantages or novel features as may become apparent from consideration of this disclosure and specification, the present invention consists of the inventive concept which is comprised, embodied, or included in the method, process, construction, composition, arrangement or combination of parts, or new use of any of the foregoing, herein exemplified in one or more specific embodiments of such concept, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary section on the line ll of FIG. 4.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary representation on the line 2-2 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevation as viewed on the line 3-3 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a plan view on the line 55 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective representation depicting one of the container-rim cavities and the tabular form of motion transferring element therein.

In the drawings, like characters of reference designate similar parts in the several Figures.

PRELIMINARY DESCRIPTION Initially describing the subject-matter hereof in terms generally consonant with those by which such subjectmatter is defined and claimed as an invention. the safety closure means hereof comprise in combination a first diametrical annular outwardly projecting rim generally designated 10 around the mouth 12 of the container 14 and a cap 16 having a central body 18, a sealing insert 20 for said mouth integral with said body, and a second diametrical annular outwardly projecting rim 22 around said cap, the outer edges 24 and 26 of said first and second rims respectively being adapted for exposed, flush-joint coincidence in closed position and means for distorting said first rim at a predetermined point on its circumference so as to exert a pry upon the cap by way of the second rim and thereby expose an opening gap 28 in said joint.

The means for distorting the first rim take the form of at least one cavity 30 provided upon the circumference of first rim 10 so as to interrupt the continuity of its circumference, and an inwardly yieldable membrane 32 spanning the cavity and joining the interrupted circumference upon the normally seen surface 34 thereof so as effectively to conceal the cavity, inward pressure upon the membrane being transferred to said second rim to exert said pry by a relatively stiff motion transferring element 36 of tabular form secured on edge to membrane 32 and lying in the plane of the longitudinal container axis.

COMPLETE DESCRIPTION The container 14 is preferably tubular. The angular outwardly projecting rim 10 is preferably frusto-conical although it may very well be hemi-spherical or of some other desired configuration. The same applies to cap 16. Sealing insert or plug 20 projects downwardly from the body 18 of the cap so as to be fittable tightly within the mouth 12 of the container. IT is important to note that the plane of the outer edges 24 and 26 of the two rims l0 and 22 should be perfectly planar. Preferably it would presently appear as if the two rims should be generally solid as indicated in FIG. 1 to provide good interfaces.

When perfectly flat and precisely fitted a joint or parting-line 38 which is practically indiscernible and of little more than a hairs breadth thickness will exist. If such parting line be at the perimetrical extremities of the rims in virtue of the particular shape of rims which have been selected for illustration, detection of the opening-plane will be even more difficult. Even if detected it will be practically impossible to insert a tool at such a thin and slippery junction particularly when, in addition, the same is annular.

The continuity of the rim 10 is broken either at one place upon its length or at diametrically opposite points by the aforesaid cavities 30. The membrane or membranes 32 which span the base of these cavities appear from the exterior as part of the smooth and continuous outer surface of the rim. Neverthelesss, upon pressure they yield. In yielding, the relatively stiff tabular element or elements 36 deviate from the position shown in full lines in FIG. 2 to the position shown in phantom lines. This appears under the distortion of the membrane or membranes.

If two membranes be employed in diametrical opposition (FIG. 4) they may both be depressed upwardly simultaneously to actuate upwardly both of the associated elements 36. It naturally follows that in such case the cap 16 will lift offout of the container 14 at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the container rather than being pried from one point upon an edge only as in H65, 2 and 3.

The exterior surfaces of the aforesaid rims when converging annularly as shown towards a relatively sharp outer perimetrical edge thus constitute the preferred embodiment of the invention inasmuch as the hairline joint or parting line between them lies on the plane at which the rims meet. It follows that the parting line is co-incident with a sharp annular outer perimeter which is particularly difficult to recognise as being the line of separation, while if it is so recognized the insertion of a fingernail, blade or other tool is exceedingly difficult at such a location. If the plane of the joint be on the incline of the annular outer edges of the first and second rims above the plane of maximum girth as at 40, attempts by little fingers to pry the rims apart may be still more difficult.

Various modifications may be constructed or performed within the scope of the inventive concept disclosed. Therefore what has been set forth is intended to illustrate such concept and is not for the purpose of limiting protection to any herein particularly described embodiment thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. Safety closure means for containers comprising in combination with said container and a cap therefor, a first diametrical annular outwardly projecting rim around the mouth ofthe container and a second diametrical annular outwardly projecting rim around said cap, an annular outer edge of said first rim being in hairline annular contact with said second rim when said means is in closed position, said first rim being substantially unyielding for the predominant part of its circumference, and means for distorting said first rim at a predetermined point on its circumference so as to exert a pry upon said cap by way of said second rim and thereby expose an opening gap in said contact, said means for distorting said first rim taking the form of at least one cavity provided upon the circumference of said first rim so as to interrupt the continuity of its circumference, and an inwardly yieldable membrane spanning said cavity and joining said interrupted circumference upon the normally seen surface thereof so as effectively to conceal said cavity, inward pressure upon said membrane being transferred to said second rim to exert said pry, said cap having a domed upper outer surface.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which at least one of said first and second rims has a planar annular surface, said cap has a domed upper outer surface, the diameter of one of said rims is less than that of the other, said rim of less diameter being in hairline contact with said annular surface to expose an annular land forming part of said annular surface, said first rim being substantially unyielding for the predominant part of its circumference, said means for distorting said first rim taking the form of at least one cavity provided upon the circumference of said first rim so as to interrupt the continuity of its circumference, and an inwardly yield able membrane spanning said cavity and joining said interrupted circumference upon the normally seen surface thereof so as effectively to conceal said cavity, and a relatively stiff motion-transferring element in said cavity, inward pressure upon said membrane being transferred to said motion-transferring element and by the latter to said second rim to exert said pry.

3. The invention according to claim 2 in which said motion-transferring element is of tabular form secured on edge to said membrane and lying in the plane of the longitudinal container axis.

4. The invention according to claim 2 in which at least two cavities are provided in diametrical opposition, each of said cavities containing one of said relatively stiff motion-transferring elements, said elements being intended for simultaneous pressure thereupon by way of said membrane so as to open said joint uniformly circumferentially. 

1. Safety closure means for containers comprising in combination with said container and a cap therefor, a first diametrical annular outwardly projecting rim around the mouth ofthe container and a second diametrical annular outwardly projecting rim around said cap, an annular outer edge of said first rim being in hairline annular contact with said second rim when said means is in closed position, said first rim being substantially unyielding for the predominant part of its circumference, and means for distorting said first rim at a predetermined point on its circumference so as to exert a pry upon said cap by way of said second rim and thereby expose an opening gap in said contact, said means for distorting said first rim taking the form of at least one cavity provided upon the circumference of said first rim so as to interrupt the continuity of its circumference, and an inwardly yieldable membrane spanning said cavity and joining said interrupted circumference upon the normally seen surface thereof so as effectively to conceal said cavity, inward pressure upon said membrane being transferred to said second rim to exert said pry, said cap having a domed upper outer surface.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 in which at least one of said first and second rims has a planar annular surface, said cap has a domed upper outer surface, the diameter of one of said rims is less than that of the other, said rim of less diameter being in hairline contact with said annular surface to expose an annular land forming part of said annular surface, said first rim being substantially unyielding for the predominant part of its circumference, said means for distorting said first rim taking the form of at least one cavity provided upon the circumference of said first rim so as to interrupt the continuity of its circumference, and an inwardly yieldable membrane spanning said cavity and joining said interrupted circumference upon the normally seen surface thereof so as effectively to conceal said cavity, and a relatively stiff motion-transferring element in said cavity, inward pressure upon said membrane being transferred to said motion-transferring element and by the latter to said second rim to exert said pry.
 3. The invention according to claim 2 in which said motion-transferring element is of tabular form secured on edge to said membrane and lying in the plane of the longitudinal container axis.
 4. The invention according to claim 2 in which at least two cavities are provided in diametrical opposition, each of said cavities containing one of said relatively stiff motion-transferring elements, said elements being intended for simultaneous pressure thereupon by way of said membrane so as to open said joint uniformly circumferentially. 